Art of Hosting Worldview Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan Tilburg University op gezag van de rector magnificus, prof. dr. Ph. Eijlander, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van een door het college voor promoties aangewezen commissie in de Ruth First zaal van de Universiteit op dinsdag 19 mei 2015 om 16.15 uur door Jerry Lynn Nagel geboren op 1 maart 1951 te Jamestown, North Dakota, USA 1 Promotor: Prof. dr. J.B. Rijsman Overige commissieleden: Prof. dr. J. Goedee Prof. dr. G.A.F. Hellemans Prof. dr. K. Gergen Dr. S. Duns 2 Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................... 6 Gratitude’s............................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 1 – Introduction ......................................................................................... 8 Worldviews ........................................................................................................ 10 Social/Relational Constructionism ..................................................................... 11 Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter ........................................................... 13 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 19 Structure ............................................................................................................ 20 Intention............................................................................................................. 24 An Invitation ....................................................................................................... 25 Chapter 2 – My Journey ........................................................................................ 27 The Beginning ................................................................................................... 27 The Meadowlark Project .................................................................................... 31 A More Personal Exploration ............................................................................. 34 Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter .................................. 40 Taos Institute/Tilburg University PhD Program .................................................. 47 Our Journey ....................................................................................................... 58 Chapter Three – Practices of Inquiry .................................................................... 59 Purpose ............................................................................................................. 63 Relational Constructionist Research ................................................................. 64 Interpretation/reflection/deconstruction ............................................................. 68 Multi-voiced ....................................................................................................... 69 Literature Review .............................................................................................. 73 Autoethnography ............................................................................................... 74 Action Research ................................................................................................ 75 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 4 – The Literature Review ....................................................................... 78 What is a Worldview .......................................................................................... 80 The Way We Understand and Depict Reality ................................................. 80 A Framework of Beliefs .................................................................................. 84 A Core Commitment ...................................................................................... 85 Answers to Life’s Big Questions .................................................................... 86 Core Components of a Worldview – Ontology, Axiology, Epistemology ........ 88 Where Our Worldviews Come From .............................................................. 91 An Expression of the Culture it Came Out of ................................................. 92 Culture and Individual Identity ........................................................................ 94 3 Multiple Worldviews & Society ....................................................................... 94 Three Different Worldviews ............................................................................... 97 An American (Western) Worldview ................................................................ 98 Relational Worldview in Africa ....................................................................... 98 A Nuu-chah-nulth Worldview ....................................................................... 100 Worldview Intelligence – Self and Others ........................................................ 104 Worldview and Conflict – Clash of Civilizations ........................................... 107 Worldview Literacy Project ........................................................................... 109 Worldview and Language/Story/Tradition .................................................... 110 Freedom to Choose ..................................................................................... 112 The Center Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Studies ....................................... 115 Creating an Integrated Worldview ................................................................ 117 Six Domains: The Apostel Framework ......................................................... 120 Relational Constructionism .............................................................................. 129 Six Domains: Relational Constructionism .................................................... 131 Reflections for Action ...................................................................................... 147 Further Invitation .......................................................................................... 147 Chapter 5 – Art of Hosting Worldview ................................................................. 149 Introduction to the Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter .. 151 History of the Art of Hosting ............................................................................. 156 Apostel Worldview Framework ........................................................................ 157 Ontology ...................................................................................................... 159 Explanation .................................................................................................. 171 Futurology .................................................................................................... 175 Axiology ....................................................................................................... 179 Praxeology ................................................................................................... 183 Epistemology ............................................................................................... 203 A Deep Learning ............................................................................................. 206 Chapter Six – Survey Results and Reflections.................................................... 207 Survey One ..................................................................................................... 208 Survey Two ..................................................................................................... 215 Survey data summary and analysis ................................................................. 224 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 227 Chapter 7 – Art of Hosting-Relational Constructionist Shared Worldview ........... 228 A Shared Worldview ........................................................................................ 229 Apostle Framework ...................................................................................... 231 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 241 Chapter 8 – Concluding Reflections .................................................................... 242 4 APPENDIX A – Art of Hosting Worldview Surveys Summary ............................. 249 Art of Hosting Worldview Survey - 1 ................................................................ 249 Art of Hosting Worldview Survey - 2 ................................................................ 254 Appendix B – Art of Hosting Worldview Intelligence Promotional Flyers ............. 259 References .......................................................................................................... 263 5 Abstract This dissertation develops an Art of Hosting (AoH) worldview and proposed the development of a worldview intelligence training program as the next step in the work. The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter offers patterns and practices for groups to use when working on issues of importance to the group. The Center Leo Apostel at the V University Brussels has developed a framework for building an integrated worldview based on six